HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-09 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2008 AT 7:30 PM
THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD
Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor
Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman
Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman
Richard B. Gamel, Councilman
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman
Absent: Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town
Also present: Dewey Dawson, Gary Coats, Elizabeth Brennan, Jacie Spoon, Matt
Cooper, April Scheffler.
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Gamel, to approve the minutes of
the November 11, 2008 meeting as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the minutes
of the November 25, 2008 Work Session as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
Claim Numbers 203-223 of the Highway Fund in the amount of$23,212.25 were presented for
audit.
MOVED by Councilman Gamel, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the Highway Bills
for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 351-385 of the General Fund in the amount of$30,215.05 were presented for
audit.
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the General
Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey.
Supervisor Morey offered Privilege of the Floor but no one wished to speak at this time.
Town Board Minutes Page 2 , 2008
Monthly Reports:
Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk - Submitted monthly report for the Board's
review and requested one budget transfer.
RESOLUTION#08-066 - 2008 BUDGET TRANSFER
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2008 Budget Transfer:
General Fund- Town Wide:
From: Contingency, A1990.4 $129.30
To: Historian, Contractual A7510.4.....129.30
Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's
review. There was a condemned house on McLean Cortland Road, which was a rental property.
The owner is going to have it torn down in the spring. The Eckert house has received a
Certificate of Occupancy. There are two new homes going up. Mr. Coats and Clerk Scheffler
had attended a seminar on wind farms which was very informative. The Albern family in
McLean had suffered a fire the day after Thanksgiving and Mr. Coats had inspected the house.
The damage can be repaired. Mr. Coats praised the McLean Fire Depai linent for its quick
response and the great job they did in putting the fire out.
Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent - Was not present but had submitted the
following report:
Currently, the Highway Department's heavy equipment has gone through the final stage of the
winter change-over and the department is at full winter maintenance strength. The highway crew
has continued cutting brush and trees and patching when weather permits. The sign crew is
nearing the completion of mounting the new, enlarged street signs mandated by NYSDOT. The
highway employees attended a safety meeting pertaining to snowplowing and cold weather
safety. Liz has updated the 2009 highway payroll. This new payroll has been sent to the
Tompkins County Personnel Department for certification. The Town of Groton highway
inventory has been checked and filed for certification with NYSDOT. Current center-line miles
remain established at 53.45 miles. Under my appointment, Peter Carr will remain as the Town
of Groton Deputy Highway Superintendent for 2009. Liz and I are approaching the process of
closing the highway accounts for 2008. I apologize for not being at the meeting. If anyone has
any questions or concerns,please feel free to stop in or call me.
April L. Scheffler, RMC, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the
Board's review. Notice had been received from the Roman Village concerning their intention to
renew their liquor license. She had been working with Bambi Hollenbeck, Dryden Town Clerk,
and Jay Franklin, from Assessment, to get the tax bills printed to properly fold and fit in
Town Board Minutes Page 3 , 2008
envelopes. Bills are being printed by Assessment in-house this year and hopefully they will be
ready on time. She had received a call from SPCA Animal Control on Saturday, November 22,
that they had come to Elm Street on a cruelty call and that case had been to court. Clerk
Scheffler and Deputy Clerk Lane had attended the regional Town Clerks meeting and had
learned about new laws affecting the correction of marriage licenses. They also learned about a
Federal law mandating new security measures for vital records and how this would affect local
registrars and a proposed country-wide database for all vital records that would standardize these
records. These are the result of both anti-terrorism legislation and the push for centralization.
Census of the Board was that they had no objections to the renewal of the liquor license for the
Roman Village.
Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town - Was not present.
A. D. Dawson, Town Justice - Monthly reports for him and Justice Norman had been submitted
for the Board's review. Justice Dawson had nothing further to report.
Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Had nothing to report.
The Board discussed a letter that had been received from the Assessment Department concerning
new maximum levels for tax exemptions for senior citizens and people with disabilities and
limited incomes. To raise exemption levels for the town tax, a local law would need to be passed
prior to March 1, 2009 in order to take effect in 2010. Supervisor Morey said that he would
discuss it with members of the Tompkins County Council of Governments to see what other
towns were proposing to do and discuss it with the Board again next month.
RESOLUTION#08-067- SET DATE FOR 2009 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby sets the 2009 Organizational Meeting for Tuesday,
January 6, 2009, at 7:30 PM and reschedules the Regular Monthly Town Board Meeting for the
same date.
Town Board Minutes Page 4 , 2008
RESOLUTION #08-068 -APPROVE 2009 HIGHWAY CONTRACT
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Gamel
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town of Groton Highway Employees be granted the following for the year
2009:
1) 4 %Z%per hour raise in pay across the board.
2) Raise clothing/boot allowance to $200.00 per year.
3) Raise Auto Mechanic's tool allotment to $1,200.00
4) Pay $650 incentive, per year, per employee for those not participating on the Town's
health insurance plan.
5) Raise longevity incentive to $.30 increase on five-year anniversaries.
RESOLUTION #08-069 -APPROVE 2009 GROTON AMBULANCE CONTRACT
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the contract for the Year 2009 between the
Town of Groton, the Village of Groton and the Groton Fire Department, Inc. for ambulance
service in the amount of$91,000.00
RESOLUTION #08-070 -APPROVE 2009 GROTON FIRE CONTRACT
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the contract for the Year 2009 between the
Town of Groton, the Village of Groton and the Groton Fire Department, Inc. for fire protection
in the amount of$95,000.00.
RESOLUTION#08-071 - APPROVE 2008 GADABOUT CONTRACT
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Gamel, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the contract for the Year 2008 with
Gadabout Services, Inc. in the amount of$4,900.00.
Town Board Minutes Page 5 , 2008
A Work Session date was set for review of the Draft Zoning Ordinance for Tuesday, December
16, 2008 at 6:00 pm.
Announcements:
➢ Zoning Board of Appeals - December 17, 7:00 pm
➢ Planning Board-December 18, 7:30 pm
➢ Groton Business Association Christmas Party, December 17, 5-7 pm, at Benn Conger
Inn.
➢ Letter from Viola Fitzgerald requesting ideas and volunteers for Winterfest 2009
scheduled for February 14.
There being no further business Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilman Gamel, at 8:04 pm. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk